Machine for making pills



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

'(No Model.)

J.'T. & 0. T. J0-NBS.,

ILLS, LOZENGES, -&.

MACHINE FOR MAKING P No. 256,573.

Patented Apr .'I8.18 82.

(N0 M del.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. I

r J. T. & 0'. T. JONES. MACHINE FOR MAKING PILLS, LOZENGES, 6w.-

Patented. Apr. 1 1882 JOEE T. JONES AND CHARLES T. JONES, ()F UTICA, NEW YORK.

MACHINE FOR MAKING PILLS, LOZENGES, 80C.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 256,573, dated April 18, 1882,

' Application filed December 9, 1861. .(Xo model.)

Pills have been made by pressure between concave-ended punches within adie, and the lower punch has been lifted to force the pill outfrom the die. The mechanism for operatin g the punches iscomplicat-ed and expensive, and the means for filling the die are not. easily applied.

' Our invention relates to the mechanism for operating the punches and'for moving the dies insuch a manner as to fill such dies with the pulverulent material for forming the pills or other. articles, and for delivering the compressed pills by the same movement.

In the drawings, Figurel is a vertical section of the machine. Fig. 2 is a plan view. Fig. 3 isan elevation partially in section; and Fig. tis a cross-section of the die, lifter, and changeable graduating-plate.

I The frames a. a are of v the proper size and shape to receive the operative parts. The shaftb is revolved by suitable power applied to the pulley b by a crank-handle. The cams upon this shaft 1) operatcthe respective parts, as hereinafter described. The die-plate 0, upper punches, d, and lower lifters, e, are adapted to the manufacture of several pills each complete movement. The drawings represent four sets of punches and dies. These may all bealike, or they may he of different sizes or shapes, as desired. Each die is of the same diameter as the [the punches downwardly at the proper time and press the pills with a powerful pressure and'then relieve the pressure, so that the ,punehesd will he in an elevated position while the other operations are being performed. The (lie-plate c is within the segmental dichol'der It, the upper surface of which is a curve described from the shaft 1, that forms an axis on which such die-holder can be swung back and forth beneath the powder-holder m.

' The arm It extends from the die-holder k to the axis 1. The lever n on the fulcrum 5 is connected to the die-holder arm k by the linlr is in a groove in the die-holder beneath the die-plate, and t is a lever on the fulcrum 9, that ispreferably formed as two parts, or with forked ends beneath the bar 1'.

The cam 8 acts upon this lcvcr t to move the same and raise the lifters e and deliver the pills at the proper time.

The movement of the die-holder brings the pill-dies beneath the powder in the holder m, the lifters e at that time nei u g pressed or drawn down, so that each hole in the punch-plate 0 receives the properamount of powder for a pill. The surplus powder is kept back by the edge of the powder-holder m scraping off such powder.

Guide-pins S on the head f, and havingtapering ends, may be provided to enter holes in the die-plate k to insure the proper position of the dies to the punches. The punches (I descend and press the pills, after which the lifters e and bar 1 are raised to discharge the com pressed pills, and these pills are carricdtoward the delivery edge of the holder It by the said holder moving beneath said pills while the latter rest against the outside of the powderholder. By this movement thepillsarc pressed away from the die-holes. As the die-holder k is carried back from beneath the powder-box the pills are moved, with the holder 7., and roll from its surface or slide into a receptacle.

The extent of downward movement of the lifter-bar r is determined by a changeable graduatin g-plate rl, applied below the lifter-bar and resting directly upon the metal of the arm k, to limit the downward movement of thelifters and form a firm support to them while the pills or other articles are being pressed. By changing this graduating-plate the dies may be adapted to receive more or less of the pewdered material by raising or lowering the lift ers c. I

It is necessary to adjust the movement given to the upper punches, so as to regulate the amount of compression to which the pills are subjected. To accomplish this object we employ the adj nstable bearingrc at the head-block f, said hearing'being composed of the two inclines 17 and 18, the upper incline being movable endwise onthe lowerincline and held by a set-screw, so that with a uniform movement given by the cam i to the lever g the punches d will be caused to reach a lowerposition in pressing the pills, if the distance between the lever g and the faces of the punches be increased by the inclines 17 and 18, and the reverse it" the ineliucsare moved the other way. .Inclines similar to the inclines l7 and 18 may be used in place of the changeable graduatingplate to allow the litters to descend to a greater or less extent.

All the movements in this machine are given from one revolving shaft and its three cams. Hence the mechanism is simple, cheap, and durable.

Weremarl; thatthesprings may bedispcnsed with it grooved cams are employed.

By removing the punches d, die-plate c, and lifters 0 others may be substituted adapted to make pills, lozenges, or other articles of til.- ferent forms. No other parts of the machine require to be changed.

\Ve claim as our invention 1. The combination, in a pill-machine, of the die-plate c, segmental die holder 7:, powderbolder m, punches d. lifters e, and their supporting and actuating devices, substantially as set forth.

2. The combiuatiomin a'pill-machine, of the die-plate c, the segmental die-holder 1:, arm L, and shaft l for said die-holder, the lifters a, bar 1' below the die'plate, the lever t, and cam s for raising the lifters, substantially as set forth.

3. In a pill-machine, the combination, with the,segmental die-holder and dies, of the powtier-holder m, the pressing-punches d, lifters e,

and means for swinging the segmental dieholder for the delivery of the compressed pills and the reception of powder, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination, in a pill-machine, of a swinging segmental dih, pressing and delivery ively, substantially as set forth.

Signed by us this 30th day of November, A. 1). 1881.

JOHN T. JONES. CHAS. T. JONES.

W itnesscs W. I. CARPENTER, Tnos. D. LEWIS. 

